DUBBED a "viral comedian" due to the spread of his fame on internet sites, Chilean-American mimic Pablo Francisco's signature routine is parodying movie trailer voiceovers. So it seems apposite that his live act has enough highlights for a mind-blowi
ng three-minute showreel and plenty of filler worthy of the schlocky blockbusters he mocks.
Beginning with an unimpressive riff as a demonic death metal singer, his freakishly accurate Willem Dafoe was followed by impressions that were either mimic-perfect, such as Aaron Neville and Danny Glover, or hilariously skewed, as with his John Travolta, Dennis Hopper and – most enthusiastically received, his premium routines having electronically preceded him – Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Brokeback Mountain and, of course, Voiceover Guy.
Blessed with respectable physical skills as well, Francisco's act seems designed for the American college circuit. Whether jogging around the stage in the exaggerated style of Grand Theft Auto or enjoying chop-socky sex as Jackie Chan, he was wonderfully juvenile (note, Francisco is 38).
His chief pastime remains ruining others' karaoke with discreet quacking, a routine that allows him to murder classic tunes. However, as with his routines on drugs paranoia, porn sets and strip clubs, the initial inventiveness all too quickly became mired in crudity and tedious repetition.
Still, with Kiwi comic Rhys Darby breaking through in the US and the live performance comeback of Police Academy's Michael Winslow, sound effects comedy seems to be enjoying an unlikely renaissance.
The full article contains 250 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
